Palestinians mourn final Cremisan Valley olive harvest

From time to time, the Palestine Center distributes articles it believes will enhance understanding of the Palestinian political reality. The following article by Sheren Khalel was published by AJ on November 4, 2016.

“Bethlehem, occupied West Bank – The rocky terraces of the Cremisan Valley are mostly overgrown and wild these days, as local landowners say they have lost all hope of keeping control over the more than 300 hectares of olive trees and orchards along the sloping mount, confiscated by the Israeli government earlier this year.

‘I haven’t been here at all this year. Look how the weeds have grown over, and trash from the street has piled up,’ Ricardo Jaweejat said, motioning towards the vast olive grove that has belonged to his family for generations.

‘What’s the point? When we learned the Israelis were taking the land, I avoided doing anything with it. It’s a little bit dangerous to be here now.'”